INSESSOllES. 587 



Family 



Genus ZOSTEROPS. 



The members of this genus are very widely dispersed over 

 the Old World, except its extreme northern portions ; three 

 well-defined species inhabit the continent of Australia and 

 Tasmania ; two are found on Norfolk Island. 



In placing this group next to the Honey-eaters, I have 

 been influenced by their approximation to those birds both 

 in form and habits, and to which they exhibit a further 

 degree of affinity in the form and structure of their nest, but 

 not in the colouring of their eggs, which are always blue. 

 The sexes are alike in plumage. 



Sp. 360. ZOSTEROPS CCERULESCENS. 

 Grey-backed Zosterops. 



Certhia cosrulescens, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. xxxviii. 



Sylvia lateralis, Lath., id., p. Iv. 



Certhia diluta, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 244. 



Philedon coeruleus, Cuv. 



Meliphaga coerulea, Steph. Cont. of Shaw's Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 264. 



Sylvia annulosa, var. /S, Swains. Zool. 111., 1st ser., pi. 16. 



Zosterops dorsalis, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 235. 



White-eye, Colonists of New South Wales. 



Zosterops dorsalis, Gould, Birds of Australia, foL, vol. iv. pi. 81. 



This bkd is stationary in all parts of Tasmania, New South 

 Wales, and South Australia, where it is not only to be met 

 with in the forests and thickets, but also in nearly every 

 garden. It even builds its nest and rears its young in the 

 shrubs and rose-trees bordering the walks. Among the trees 

 of the forest the beautiful Leptospermum is the one to which 

 at all times this species evinces a great partiality. 



Its flight is quick and darting, and when among the 



